First day of kindergarten: tears through the years

Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times File Valerie Alvarez (left) tries to comfort her daughter, Amy Vasquez, 3, as she talks to her father on the phone on the first day of school at Zavala Special Emphasis School in 2010. She is Alvarez’ first child to begin school, and while Amy cried, Valerie fought back tears herself.

Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times file Rebecca Laso (left) comforts her daughter Ariela Flores, 4, on her first day of prekindergarten at Romero Elementary School in Robstown last year.

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Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times file David Harvey, 4 is held by prekindergarten paraprofessional Eunice Lacroix after his parents left on the first day of school at Smith Elementary School in 2008.

Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times file Tuloso-Midway Primary School kindergarten teacher Benito Portillo comforts Damien Jenkins, 5, on the first day of school in 2012. Damien had grandparents on both sides drive from East Texas to see him off on his first day of school.

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Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times file Mari Espinosa (left) prepares to leave her son, Marcos Villarreal, 5, on his first day of kindergarten at Romero Elementary School in Robstown in 2012.

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Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times file Andrea Rodriguez (center) tries to calm her daughter Lauren Cervantes’ nerves on the first day of school at Lexington Elementary School for Carroll Lane Elementary School students while sibling Gabriel Cervantes, 6, waits to be dropped off at Windsor Park Elementary School in 2010.

Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times file Ruben Luis says goodbye to his daughter, Kaitlyn Luis, 5, on her first day of kindergarten in July at London Elementary School.

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Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times file Isaac Salazar, 3, lets out a wail as his father, Frank Salazar, tries to comfort him on the first day of school at Zavala Special Emphasis School in 2010. “This year is going great,” said his teacher Leticia Valentine. “Last year we had runners.”

Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times file Anayz Barrera (left) gives her son, Tello Moreno, 4, a kiss as he begins school in 2010 at Zavala Special Emphasis School.